Mine laying operations together with the destroyers Richard Heinemann and Wilhelm Zenker against Cromer.
Design and service
The story of Z 13 Erich Koellner
Z 13 Erich Koellner took part in two mining operations in British coastal waters in 1939 and 1940. During in Operation Weserübung the Z 13 Erich Koellner was part of the Kriegsschiffgruppe 1 heading for Narvik. It was sunk on 13.04.1940 in the Ofotfjord near Narvik after a battle with 6 British destroyers. Wreck raised and broken down in 1963.
Operational history
Service timeline
Mine laying operations together with the destroyers Wolfgang Zenker and Brono Heinemann against the Haisborough lightship. The mine laying destroyers are supported by Wilhelm Heidkamp, Theodor Riedel and Hermann Schoemann.
Operation "Wikinger": Together with Richard Beitzen, Friedrich Eckold, Theodor Riedel, Max Schulz and Leberecht Maas, the Erich Koellner operates against british fishing boats at the Doggerbank. On their way to the operations area, the destroyers are attacked by a German bomber, sinking the Leberecht Maas. During the evasive maneuvers, the destroyers run into British mines and the Max Schulz is lost after a mine hit.
Operation Weserübung: Erch Koellner joins the destroyers Georg Thiele, Wolfgang Zenker, Anton Schmitt, Erich Giese, Bernd von Arnim, Diether von Roeder, Hermann Lüdemann, Hermann Künne and Wilhelm Heidkamp in the Narvik Attack Group.
Operation Weserübung: The destroyer is sunk by the British destroyers Bedouin, Eskimo, Icarus and Funjabi at the Ofotfjord.
At a glance
Technical profile
Dimensions, armament, protection and performance.
Dimensions
- Size (Max)
- 3190 t
- Length (Total)
- 121,0 m
- Length (Waterline)
- 116,0 m
- Beam
- 11,3 m
- Draft
- 4,23 m
- Crew
- 325
Armament
- 12,7 cm L/45 C/36
- 5
- 3,7 cm L/83 C/30
- 4
- 2 cm MG L/65 C/30
- 6
- 53,3 cm Torpedo tubes
- 8
- Mines
- 60
Machinery
- Shafts
- 2
- Turbines
- 2
- Type
- Wagner Geared Turbines
Performance
- Total Performance
- 70000 shp
- Speed
- 37,0 kn
- Range
- 2680 sm at 19 kn
Construction record
Z 13 Erich Koellner
- Laid down
- Germaniawerft Kiel, 12.10.1935
- Launched
- 18.03.1937
- Commissioned
- 28.03.1939
- Fate
- sunk 13.04.1940
- Cost
- 13,4 Mio Reichsmark
